7/18/2021
I woke up with the mindset of Torch Lake. I made a fabulous breakfast. Egg bagel and a side hash. My favorite seasoning was the everything bagel - jalapeño flavor. I Topped the sandwich with tomato, one leaf lettuce, and avocado. I was going to start my day right. I text the mom good morning and a picture of my breakfast s as I’ve been doing since day one.
Torch was an hour and a half away from camp so I started the drive at 8:30
From reading Facebook pages, I hear the North End was the dock to go to because it was quieter and easier to deal with. So I started there. It takes 30 minutes from bottom to top of Torch Lake. And by the time I get there, I really had to…💩. I didn’t see an out house at first so I decided to turn around and use another dock. $5 entry fee….okay? So I drove all the way back down, which took longer than 30 mins because of all the road bikers, which frustrated me. I had to go to the bathroom. No gas station or restaurant. This side of the lake was all homes. I get to another dock. No parking lot. No out house. Where the 🦆 is all the boat trailers for those who launch here!?! I step out of my vehicle and see them scattered throughout town. If I didn’t have to 💩 sure. But nope. Drive to the sandbar. Scenic area. At this point it is 11am. And the crowd was gathering. I couldn’t get onto the lake because none of the docks had parking. And I don’t want to park and carry my kayak around town or leave it at the dock. And when leaving the lake I would have to Walk back to my car only to wait hours ( exaggerate) to get back into the dock just to pick up my kayak. Absurd. How can a popular lake have such shitty boat docks/launches with no reasonable parking? Put a large lot across the street damn it! Something! I started traveling and ready to give up, I saw a truck with a boat turn down a street in my review mirror. I wanted to follow. Maybe he knew something I didn’t. As I did the U turn, there was a launch sign! How the 🦆 are you going to put a launch sign on one side of the road and not the other! I was led down a dirt road which soon led me to a private drive. A DNR boat launch tucked off to the side. I knew this lake was no longer Torch. Yes I have a sense for direction. Could this be Elk? Please be Elk! Yes it was Elk Lake!
And they had an outhouse! Hallelujah. And a map of Elk and Torch where I noticed there were two…TWO! kayak launches near the sand bar on Torch! Why…why are these not properly marked on their lake! I just don’t understand. The most popular lake in Michigan and the most poorly marked and least amount of parking. Where are these secrets I don’t know to be found!?
but furthermore…
Elk lake was massive and beautiful and full of glory. There were not many homes around the lake and it had about 85% less boaters. I was surrounded by divine beauty, crystal clear water where I could see straight to the bottom and beautiful rock shores with substantial space in between houses of just land and shores. I spent 3 or more hours swimming and kayaking that massive beauty. Elk Lake moved up to my favorite Lake.
But I still wanted to know what the hype was about Torch. I drove back to the North end boat launch and sure enough tucked away in front of the entrance hidden with trees was the outhouse. And so far I was glad I didn’t see it. I unloaded my Yak and got onto torch and realized that this lake scored lower than Gun Lake in lakes I Dislike. Houses everywhere, no shoreline to park. Yes crystal waters but Elk was more beautiful and less congested with human life. I can’t image what the south end of the lake looked like. I remember when I drove by the main boat dock near the rental place, the sandbar was packed around 11. All I could think was gross! My party beach days are over. I enjoy quiet peaceful trips where I am wrapped in the arms of nature’s beauty. Torch Lake I will not visit you ever again unless I rent a boat to what…drive around the lake drunk to park and drink? Pass. Been there and done that.
Next I decided to see what Traverse City had to offer. It was bumper to bumper. Nope, I guess I am not visiting the town. But like I said before, I don’t need another tourist shirt, or shot glass or nicknack. I am good with not walking around the town. I went to the state beach and I barely got in. Only to stick my toes in the water and decide…. I don’t like Traverse City.
I decided to hike one of the two trails on my list. It was 5pm, I was hungry so I picked the one closer to camp. Lost Lake Pathway.
I lathered up in Poison Ivy block and bug spray. But man oh man. Those bugs were awful. Spinning around my head and diving into my face. I had to sprint a couple of times just to get away. I came across a few lookouts into Dumont Lake. Absolutely beautiful and I wish I had time to explore the wonders of that lake. The trail nearly side by side the entire time while the hike- in camping sites of the state forest were on the other side of the trail. I soon realized that camping out here would be rough because of all the Ivy and those damn bugs who like to circle my head! Lost lake trailhead was supposed to lead you to a hidden lake called Christmas lake but the one and only view spot was kind of awful. Guarded by large trees and overgrown bushes I could barely see and as I started to explore more I got swarmed with three large flies which practically chased me out and off the trail back to my jeep. That’s enough for one day I said.
Sunday was the most disappointing and stressful day. But I bottled it back only to explode later.
